History

Transit in the Roaring Fork Valley

1970s City of Aspen initiates public bus service.
1976 Pitkin County initiates its own public bus service.
1983 Aspen, Pitkin County bus services merge, forming the Roaring Fork Transit Agency (RFTA).
1997 Roaring Fork Railroad Holding Authority (RFRHA) buys right-of-way for the Rio Grande Trail.
2000 The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) was created by a vote of citizens in 7 jurisdictions.
2001 RFRHA was merged into RFTA
2003 Corridor Investment Study released. The five-year study developed a regional transportation solution to address mobility needs between Glenwood Springs and Aspen / Snowmass. The study recommended BRT as the most economically feasible alternative to help meet transit demand and mitigate traffic congestion, both of which are projected to increase in the future.
2006 RFTA Board of Directors adopted its 2017 Vision Statement.
2007 System ridership reaches an all-time high, at 4.4 million boardings on all services.
2008 Internal BRT project development finalized; the regions' voters approved a 0.4% sales tax increase and $44.55 million in bonding authority to support the RFTA BRT project; the Federal Transit Administration approved the RFTA Very Small Starts grant application into the Project Development phase; RFTA achieved record-breaking ridership of 4.85 million
2009 RFTA issues $27.5 millions in bonds so as to have its local funds available to match the $25 million Federal Transit Administration Very Small Starts Grant which is anticipated to be approved in 2010.